I shouldn’t be surprised to hear about people stealing parking meters, but it’s always a jolt. The thought that someone can make off with a fixed object is mind boggling. In reality, the idea that parking meters are fixed objects is one quickly rejected by the criminal mind. The intent to steal seems to enhance creativity in this area.
In Stockton, California, so many parking meters have been stolen that city leaders are brainstorming a solution. More than $180,000 has been taken in 2017 alone. The city council met this week to discuss how they can safely collect parking revenue.
Officials will pitch some options to eliminate the parking meter problem, including pay by plate, where drivers would enter their license plate number at a kiosk. Another idea includes using credit card meters only so coins aren’t stolen, or an idea of bringing in a parking app.
What we need to do is get the people who make child proof packaging and the like to apply their skills to keeping a parking meter from disappearing. The car alarm people could help, too. Flashing lights and a shrill siren might scare off anybody trying to tamper with a parking meter.
The city of Stockton has many options for securing its meter revenue – although not all of them come with an affordable price tag. From pay-by-plate to kiosks to apps, there is a lot they can do to ensure their meter money is safe.
Read the article here.
